By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
GREATER Dandenong’s top cop has slammed the state’s “ridiculously permissive” liquor licensing regime.
And last week his views that the ready availability of cheap alcohol fuels a range of social and criminal problems received moral support from the state opposition and Greater Dandenong council.
Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius, who oversees the south metro police region, said the Victorian Commission of Gambling and Liquor Regulation allowed giant packaged liquor outlets to target disadvantaged communities.
It is a system that rewards “people motivated by profit on the back of the misery of others,” Mr Cornelius said.
“My key frustration is we have a regulatory framework that doesn’t support us making the case that we need less alcohol in the community, not more.
“I find it passing strange that we have to prove that another liquor outlet in our community will cause harm.
“I would think in any legal system the proponent would have the burden of proof on them, to prove that their outlet won’t cause harm.”
He said packaged liquor outlets account for 75 per cent of alcohol-fuelled crime in the south east.
Yet these outlets comprise just 10 per cent of the region’s 3000-plus liquor licences.
Mr Cornelius said that early research, conducted jointly with south-east councils, had found a close correlation with alcohol-related family violence.
“The vast, vast, vast majority (of packaged liquor) is consumed in the family home,” Mr Cornelius said.
“The main game is around how we negate excessive volumes of liquor being put out in our community and driving up offending.”
Mr Cornelius said he would like the outlets subject to similar restrictions as licensed bars and pubs – which limits deals such as two-for-one offers.
“If I had a magic wand, it would be to put the excessive marketing and consumption of alcohol back in balance.
“But this isn’t a police issue, this is a community attitudinal problem.”
Mr Cornelius also takes aim at Shane Warne and the nation’s “idiotic” attitude to excessive alcohol drinking.
He points to Warne’s persistent line of questioning to Australia’s victorious World Cup cricketers in March when he asked how “thirsty” they were.
“To change our attitude, we need people like Shane Warne to change their attitude,” Mr Cornelius said.
“That idiotic linking of excessive drinking of alcohol in celebration isn’t on. It has to stop.”
Opposition leader Matthew Guy recently told Star News the best thing would be for south east councils to ask the State Government for a moratorium on new liquor outlets in affected areas.
As a former Planning Minister, he had introduced such a moratorium in Chapel Street, Prahran.
Mr Guy said there was no better advice on community safety than that given by police.
However, he backed away from overhauling the liquor licensing regime.
Greater Dandenong community services director Mark Doubleday told a council meeting on 14 September that it was waiting for the completion of the evidence-based review – which was referred to by Mr Cornelius.
Mr Doubleday said the council would seek changes if the link between packaged liquor sales and harm was established.
